Zawrat from Five Lakes

Zawrat (2,158 m a.s.l.) is a legendary pass associated with chains, precipices, and the start of Orla Perć. But there is a catch: Zawrat has two sides.

💡 In a nutshell – Zawrat from Five Lakes:

1. No chains: The approach via the blue trail from the Valley of Five Lakes has no artificial aids and no major exposure.
2. Demanding fitness: It’s a long route (over 11 km one way from Palenica). The climb from the hut in Five Lakes alone takes approx. 2 hours.
3. Descent: The safest way is to return the same way. Descending towards Hala Gąsienicowa means a steep gully with chains (often snow-covered until July).
4. Orla Perć: Zawrat is the start of the hardest trail in Poland. Do not treat entering Orla as a spontaneous extension of your trip!

If you climb to the pass from the Valley of Five Lakes (blue trail), you will not encounter a single chain on your way! This is the perfect variant for people who want to feel the atmosphere of the high mountains but are paralyzed by the fear of rock climbing.

Trail description: High mountains without climbing

The tiles above show the parameters of the ascent itself from Palenica Białczańska to the pass (11.3 km one way).

Stage 1: Through Roztoka to Five Lakes

We start at Palenica Białczańska. We walk along the tarmac to Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, where we turn onto the green trail into the Roztoka Valley. After about 2.5 hours of walking, we reach the Valley of Five Lakes. This is a great place to rest before the main ascent.

Stage 2: Towards the rock walls

From the hut, we follow the blue trail, passing successive lakes. The path rises gently along the valley floor. We pass the turn-offs for Szpiglas Pass and Kozi Wierch, consistently sticking to the blue markers.

Stage 3: Approach to Zawrat (A fitness test)

At the end of the valley, the trail starts to climb sharply up over stone scree, right under the massive walls of Świnica.

• No chains: The approach is steep, long, and exhausting, but there are no technical difficulties here. There is no exposure (precipices under your feet).
• With every metre up, the view of the Valley of Five Lakes becomes more and more spectacular.

On the pass: Two worlds

Zawrat is a narrow crack in the rock (you will find the famous figure of the Virgin Mary here). The view from the pass is an incredible contrast:

• To the south: The sun-drenched Valley of Five Lakes, from which we just came.
• To the north: A dark, steep gully dropping into the Gąsienicowa Valley (this is the famous “New Zawrat” with chains).

Warning: What next? (Do not go onto Orla!)

From Zawrat you have three return options:

1. Descent the same way to Five Lakes: The safest and most logical option (especially if you have a car at Palenica).
2. Descent to Hala Gąsienicowa: Warning! This is a difficult, steep gully secured with chains. Hard, dangerous snow lingers in it until mid-summer.
3. Entering Orla Perć (red trail): We absolutely advise against treating Orla Perć as an “add-on” to your trip! The section from Zawrat to Kozi Wierch is one-way, extremely difficult, and highly exposed.

Who this is absolutely NOT for?

Do not go to Zawrat if reaching the hut in Five Lakes drained all your strength – you still have almost 2 hours of sharp climbing from the hut. Remember too that this is not a “walk in the valley” – in the event of a storm on the pass, there is nowhere to hide, and lightning strikes here extremely often. If you only want to see the lakes, stick to the variant to the Valley of Five Lakes itself.